The notion that a person with no formal education possesses no intellectual faculties and thus must be dismissed as a hapless intellectual zombie is so antiquated and unscientific such that even those who once held it as a basis to oppress Africans are now embarrassed when reminded of such nonsensical views. Seemingly Prince Mashele harbours no such inhibitions, and repeats it with impunity at every opportunity he gets.

The view that intellectual rigour is the preserve of those who have spent time behind a classroom desk, assumes that there are only western forms of education. This betrays lack of knowledge about the various ways to impart knowledge in society, particularly, among indigenous Africans. The fact of the matter here is that long before there were classrooms, there were always various means through which knowledge was shared and acquired.

Communities taught their young, how to engage in economic, social, religious and political activity; gathering plants for food, hunting wild animals, rearing cattle, planting crops, running initiation schools, slaughtering cattle or goats for ancestral rituals, paying tribute to kings, attending traditional courts, even engaging in war. Who would deny that this was education in the fields of agriculture, politics and law?

As a result of its ability to organically develop intellectuals that were its products, our pastoral communities produced orators whose persuasiveness could swing decisions in traditional courts and in lobola negotiations. They did not have to be lawyers to perform such tasks, but had been schooled in the University of Life.

No one can now dispute that military strategists and organic intellectuals such as King Shaka and Moshoeshoe could turn defeat into victory in the battlefield. Were these not intellectuals? Not in Prince Mashele’s book.

I am reminded of an anecdote. A young man was sent to university by his uneducated parents. They sold all their livestock risking their livelihood in order to realise their son’s dream only to be later confronted by the horror of their son being embarrassed of them as soon as he received his university qualification and ultimately rejecting them. In this case, who are the non-intellectuals here: the overzealous parents or the ungrateful son? The answer is clear.

The “uneducated” Jacob Zuma started serving in the ANC NEC in 1977, was re-elected into the NEC in 1985, elected its deputy secretary-general in 1991, was elected its national chairperson in 1994 and in 1997 was elected its deputy president, but Mashele is not embarrassed to allege that Zuma is where he is today because of “victimhood” : “If Zuma did not incarnate victimhood in the faction-ridden politics of the latter-day ANC, nothing exceptional would have propelled him to the fortuitous heights he now occupies.”

Is it so difficult for Prince Mashele to appreciate the fact and fix it firmly to his mind that Zuma may have risen to the dizzy heights he now occupies because of his dedication to the struggle against apartheid when many of his peers hid behind the skirts of their families and homelands.

Surely, with the above evidence, Mashele’s statement ranks as nothing but a figment of his imagination.

Although pretending to write about the intellectual inaptitude of Zuma, Mashele shows the shocking disdain with which he holds us “ruralitarian” ANC members. We are all guilty by association. The fact that we grew up in villages renders us thoughtless mobs that supported Zuma because he could “dance” and sing just like we do.

Mashele must accept that we supported Zuma because we were tired of the “educated” former president Mbeki who we felt treated many with disdain. One’s level of education is no weapon to insult the rest but should assist one to act as a resource to the rest of society. There is no necessity for the gratuitous insults and disdainful assumptions that we suffer incurable levels of intellectual bankruptcy.

We should never buy into the notion that education only comes from western style institutions who peddle eurocentric, Christian, white supremacist values and look down on wisdom of indigenous cultures that have enabled humans to survive and thrive in harmony with the environment since the beginning.

Fortunately, human history constantly reminds us that true wisdom and knowledge cannot be found simply in books! Fortunately a new world order has begun where indigenous cultures can now remove the remaining shackles of colonialism and imperialism!

http://none Lyndall Beddy

Historically self educated people have often been more successful than uneducated people – but that does mean Self EDUCATED not Uneducated!

Zuma plays dumb for political purposes and everything he says is with a reason.

mythos

I think you can only speak for South Africans, not all Africans.

In spite of all the other shortcomings, here in Kenya you don’t even get a look-in to the presidential stakes without a degree, preferably better if you wish to succeed.

It does make a difference, you know, to the intellect and all, and to the VOTERS confidence in your ability to understand things. Especially the bigger picture.

Only those without it try to justify their position.

Joupert

Ag please – a formal education requires examinations which have to be passed – this proves the you are competent in a certain field and have the IQ to make responsible decisions. General tips that you pick up from the community add to this a little but as there is no exam one cannot know how much is actually learnt or if it has any value.

Joupert

Ag please – a formal education requires examinations which have to be passed – this proves the you are competent in a certain field and have the IQ to make responsible decisions. General tips that you pick up from the community add to this a little but as there is no exam one cannot know how much is actually learnt or if it has any value.

Mr. Direct

Did I read this right – you decided Mr. Zuma would make a good president because he was not educated, and the last president made you feel a little dumb?

Surely you want a leader that is morally sound, intellectually capable, inspirational, admired and respected by the nation and internationally, and can lead a government that serves the interests of the people?

Oh, but you wanted somebody that did not go to university. My your standards are incredibly low!

And if I have said it once, I have said it a million times, Mr. Zuma should never have accepted the presidential nomination, because there was enough doubt about his morals to compromise the respect the office should demand. This is not good for the country, and as a military leader, he should be well aware that sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice people for the greater good.

But he is too selfish for something like sacrifice.

African

I fully agree with you that formal education is no sign of intelligence, and that African customs and traditions are in no way inferior to Western. However my concern with Mr Zuma has nothing to do with his education or his intelligence. He is certainly a smart politician – cunning if I may use that word. However my concern is with his basic moral values, ethics and personal integrity. If I may be bold, I think he lets Africans down with his severely compromised values and his lack of ethics and integrity – and is a highly intelligent, manipulative individual – the whole country bumpkin thing is a meaningless diversion which as you point out is incorrect. Hence to me this debate has nothing to do with African culture, which is valuable and should be respected. It’s to do with the basic personal values of our leaders, and if they are worthy of the nation.

http://none Lyndall Beddy

despite the work Obama, his mother, and grandparents put in to get Obama the best education a Black American can get, Obama is effectively self educated, and his real education started when he went to Kenya to trace his father’s family. This is because of the appalling standard of American education, especially in basic subjects like History and Geography.

Paddy

Zuma appears foolish through what he says and does.
Your argument applies for an 19th centuary backwater. Not a modern country that needs to compete within an ever competitive world. If SA wants to pull 75% of our population out of poverty – Zuma’s way (and yours ?) is to go backwards not forwards.

http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/sarahbritten Sarah Britten

As one of those dreaded white liberals, let me say this: whatever his faults (which are many) I prefer Jacob Zuma to Thabo Mbeki. The former president always seemed more like an academic who was better off in a corner office smoking a pipe and endlessly pontificating.

Momma Cyndi

When Zuma was appointed as our President, I wasn’t happy but I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He wouldn’t have been my first choice and I know that he wasn’t the first choice of many who are supporters of the ANC.

Whilst I will admit that he hasn’t been the worst president ever (he’d need to go a long way to beat the finger wagging fool), he isn’t the best. He can’t read worth a damn and he can’t be allowed to speak without notes or he says daft things. That isn’t good.

I actually miss Mbeki. He was very wrong on many things and he was a rampant racist. But he never passed the buck, he wasn’t a chameleon, he led from the front without apology and we were never in any doubt about the direction that he wanted to steer our country (or our continent) on.

I would vote for ANC in a heartbeat if you’d put Joel up as president. Unfortunately he is both too ‘kleva’ and too honest. As a result, I have no clue who to vote for next elections – you may want to consider that I’m not alone in that

http://necrofiles.blogspot.com Garg Unzola

It’s a bit unfair to uphold Zuma as an example of someone with intellectual rigour while still being entirely uneducated and ineducable. Zuma is yet to exhibit intellectual rigour.

If you’re trying to say that Zuma is far from stupid, then you do have a point. The shame in Zuma’s case here is twofold: The fact that he does have the ability but not the character to develop it, and the fact that he does not have the character to see the need for bettering himself.

On the contrary, you’ve merely demonstrated Zuma’s myopia. Are you supporting Zuma because he is unfairly ridiculed for being uneducated, or are you merely supporting Zuma because he’s black?

Despite Zuma’s impeccable struggle credentials and his spending most of his life discussing complex issues with the likes of Dr Pallo Jordan and Govan Mbeki his post apartheid achievements are quite notable.

This is the person who facilitated tangible peace in Burundi and Kwa-Zulu Natal. As President of South Africa he is unmatched. He appointed and provides space for a truly independant public protector, he initiated an investigation into the citadels of corruption viz municipalities, his administration drastically reduced the incidents of crime in SA, ThE UN says the increase in the lifespan of South Africans since he took over can only be described as dramatic, he has dramatically reduced HIV infection rates and AIDS related deaths. He initiated the drafting of the National Development Plan, he has intoduced the National Health Insurance Plan, matric results are steadily improving under his administration. He is the first President that tackles unemployment head on, the R7 billion rand infrastructure development plan is bound to change the face of South Africa.

The list of his achievements is just too long. In the ANC he has brought about unity and a sense of common purpose with its allies. He has desisted from unilaterally inventing untested theories (such as Two Nations)…

ntozakhona

Eish space does not allow for a full outline of Msholozi’s achievements no wonder his detractors have only rumour, insults and innuendo to resort to.

DeeGee

Sure. Education is not necessarily the be-all and end-all. Look at Mugabe – well educated, but an absolute lunatic.

DeeGee

And so was Verwoerd for that matter.

Comrade Koos

I think its great having an ‘uneducated’ person that can express their tribal heritage leading a country, if they do so with honestly, integrity and efficiently.

However if there are growing service delivery protests, Marikana happenings, late school books deliveries in Limpopo, rich people in government getting richer with tenders while the poor suffer more and more, then the presidents leadership has failed. It does not matter how ‘educated’ or ‘uneducated’ the person is.

I wonder if Comrade Karl Marx would approve that President Zuma spent well over
R 200 million of taxpayers money upgrading his private home at Nkandla. Would Comrade Karl Marx approve of Cyril Ramaphosa, the 12th wealthiest man in South Africa being the deputy leader of the ANC?

joseph

i am a black south african ashamed by your comments above. education is important
in this centuaries we are living in, your examples above shows that you are clueless
about what is going on in the world. knowledge from europe, asia or else where in the world is needed if you want to survive. examples below can clarify this,
* you enjoy writing your comment on line because of education behind desk.
* the uneducated president of SA enjoy going around the world and the country dressed with expensive suit, transported with expensive flights, driving around with
imported expensive GERMAN CARS because of education which he does not posses in his capacity. Can he do that in an AFRICAN way of SHAKA you talking about?
We have to accept the reality sometimes as a nation to progress.

Stuart

working the cattle in the field etc may be an education in subsistence and it has brought Africa to mighty levels of development apparent throughout the continent. any idiot can be trained to tend livestock – but what happens when cattle get sick? one needs an understanding of biology and pharmacology to adequately treat the illness. Africa needs all the education it can get – left to its own initiative Africa will remain at the level of the West 500 years ago.

Lwazi

I however do not agree that Mbeki “insulted” anyone because he was educated and the rest of you are/were not. I do not know where the hell you got such notions, wena kwedini ka Ndamase. You seem to me like one who is begging for recognition from a certain group of people who shall not be named. But how can we be so oblivious to the fact that all of Zuma’s mistakes have been due to his intellectual capabilities- whether that results from his lack of education or not, I’m not quite sure.

Marianne de Leuca

I can only speak for myself. I agree that wisdom does not necessarily come from a formal education, and it is not Jacob Zuma’s lack of a formal education that I have a problem with. I don’t support him because he is a person who has been implicated in corruption, and his morality and integrity is in question.

The Creator

Mashele is certainly mistaken in claiming that high levels of education are required for competence as a politician. (He’s a singularly feeble commentator, a typical black front man hired by whites to pose as a pundit.)

However, it is certainly true that both the ANC and the country have been disastrously mismanaged after Zuma’s coup, so that the ANC is now just a hollow shell of tenderpreneurs while the country is in steady socio-economic decline. Mashele certainly gets that right.

The fact that some people were “tired” of Mbeki because he obstructed their road to corrupt self-enrichment, and therefore helped install Zuma and his cabal, is not something which anyone should be proud of.

Blackbravo

“…communities produced orators whose persuasiveness could swing decisions in traditional courts and in lobola negotiations…”

Herein lies the defining point, 21st century leadership is not premised on ones ability to conduct themeselves in traditional courts but in world politics. The Republic has adopted a foreign body politic of democracy, the incumbent should have the capacity to conduct themeselves in a manner compliant to its rules and expectations.

Zuma is brilliant at traditional affairs, but lacks poorly in democratic political affairs.

francois williams

U know the definition of an intellectual?
Someone who has learned to a level above his own intelligence…shame…

Lennon

My brother and I have had this argument with my dad on numerous occasions.

As I recall, Zuma received a fair amount of tutoring during his stint on Robben Island. That he was also running the ANC’s intelligence wing out of Mozambique tells me that he is far from stupid or “uneducated”.

If asked, I would have to say that Zuma is a tactician, but with with a hint of “Nixon Syndrome”.

Chess champion, victorious leader over great Intellectual MBeki and a man with 5 wives.
The latter is the clincher for me, imagine the poilitics, imagine the games, imagine having to remember everything said to each individual wife. No greater game than marriage let alone 5 female combatants.

No JZ is very clever but he is not wise. He is a ruler not a leader and his continual games and manipulation means he is not watching or leading the country to a brighter future but always watching his back and coming up with such awesome quips like the white mans dog.

In one comment he divided us on racial lines,
then divided black people on rural and urban,
ANC people on cadres and reformers,
Pet lovers,
etc…
Divide and conquer.

Now our esteeemed JZ has been playing the stupid herd boy card for some time now as a key weapon in under estimating him. I am sure he learnt this from chess, watching the private schools boys disbelief when the herd boy kicked his ass, ahh this is something to remember my pretties.

To the author, this cunning trickery is not to be admired. Think Bunga bunga politics of Italy and where this trickery got Italy.

So de-colonise your mind if you think our President is dumb and decolonise your mind from the poltical speak that divides us.

http://southafricana.blogspot.com Dave Harris

@African
” lack of ethics and integrity – and is a highly intelligent, manipulative individual”
Whose “ethics” should Africans be measured against? Your puritanical ethics on marriage?
Show me a single POLITICIAN in ANY democracy in the world that has integrity and is not manipulative!!!

@Sarah Brittain
Hey, now you’re talking! Thabo Mbeki was a failure, but hey, even though I don’t like the guy, I’ll still cut him some slack since he had BEEEG shoes to fill after Mandela.

http://necrofiles.blogspot.com Garg Unzola

@Mythos:
You hit the nail on the head. I think it’s a case of sour grapes.

I would not mind if the other Mbeki (Moeletsi Mbeki, that is) became our president here in South Africa. That would never happen, though. He tends to bite the hand that feeds too often.

Leon

“African”, you have said it all. Amen. You have captured the essence of most people’s problem with Jacob Zuma.

ian shaw

Traditional African education was never meant to automatically be sufficient for governing a modern industrial starte. Education encompasses a well-developed problem-solving ability as an essential attribute. Rote learning of many facts is not really education.

Tofolux

The issue about formal education is a leadership myth. Andrew Johnson 17th Pres Of USA, Jane Austen, RIchard Branson, Agatha Christie,Simon Cowell, Princess Diana, Benjamin Franklin and many leading figures had a serious lack of formal education. Even the world famous Einstein had problems with formal education, a speech impediment and spoke very very slowly. Now if the arrogance of those who believe that their formal education sets them above the rest then one should ask if their contribution to society can be remotely measured against any of the aforementioned. Also it must be noted that in many cases the lack of formal education was made up with a different form of education of equal or greater value. But lets say that those who are priviledged with this education pre 1994, how must they be measured in intellect when it is they who not only acted in the most barbaric way but corrupted and drove our country into bankrupcy? This noting that it is these who are the most cynical and vociferous around Pres JZ. Prince and others have for a long time danced to the tune of the very oppressors they learnt all this arrogance from, so shud we take them serious. Their actions and utterances confirm that they find blacks in general and africans in particular backward and not up to their ”standard’. Their means test relates to areas of reading & vocabulary hence it is them who find & elevate unintelligent ones who speak with the Queens voice as an educated bourgeoise eg L Mazibuko

Brian B

i have had the privilege to interact with many people from various backgrounds with little or no education whose intrinsic wisdom has been an example to all.
I have also had the misfortune to associate with extremely highly educated individuals who seem to lack even a shred of basic common sense.
I don’t think the President fits into either category .

Miranda Andrews

Why all the apologies for Western culture and education? Why the “I am a dreaded liberal” and “we must respect African culture”. What about respecting all culture, including the fact that one might be a well-educated, English-speaking South African. Why not respect that? For heaven’s sake, it is time to stop being so mealy-mouthed about being part of South Africa and ask others to respect our background and traditions as much as we are requested to respect theirs.
As for the education debate, some valid points made but it does not answer who you would call if your child needed a brain surgeon.

Enough Said

Robert Mugabe from Zimbabwe has six degrees. HF Verwoerd, the architect of apartheid had at least two post graduate degrees. Idi Amin, the Ugandan tyrant had but little schooling. These three leaders have something in common, that is not a good human rights record.

So it does not matter whether a leader has much formal education or not, but Archbishop Tutu said long ago, Jacob Zuma is not presidential material and Tutu has now been proven to be correct.

The debate should not be about Zuma’s level of schooling, but about his integrity, and whether South Africa is overcoming racism and the other injustices of the past under his leadership.

Or should the masses demand a better, more compitent leader?

http://none Lyndall Beddy

How can you possibly think Zuma uneducated – when he was taught and tutored by Nelson Mandela himself on Robben Island.

He is Haming up an act for political reasons!

Mbeki appears to have been indoctrinated, more than educated, both at Sussex University and also in Moscow. Read Mark Gevisser’s biography of Mbeki, and the book “Tick Bite Fever” which describes the racism of Sussex University at the time Mbeki was studying there.

Zeph

I agree that education is not the be all and end all of being clever; but it sure helps a damn.
Self education is often undervalued and this is where I think our government is failing. I am talking about Libraries – an easy target for budget cuts and, seeing it resides in Sports, Arts and Culture, it is not considered and important portfolio. Not like EDUCATION. Ironic that, don’t you think?
I would like to ask JZ what is on his bedside table and what he has read over the past year. Just curious is all.

Tofolux

@Lazola, there is one question that should be put to Prince ie Will he question the the intellect of 10 Nobel Prize Winners, 8 USA Presidents, 1 Astronaut, 56 Best Selling Authors (current) and noting their pre-occupation with americanism, 14 Recipients of the US highest Civilian honor medals, 12 Congressional Gold Medal recipients, 25 Billionaires, uncounted Millionaires where it is proven that all of the above received very little formal education. Names can be supplied (you will be surprised at the list) but can you endeavour to do everything in your power to pose this question to Prince Mashele?

TumiM

Agreed,there is no evidence that formal education increases anyone’s intelligence – it just helps one make the most of their talents.This should obviously not be taken to mean that you can’t reach your potential without formal education,just that,you know,it helps.I am uncomfortable tho with the notion that formal education makes one less authentic somehow; its very disturbing to me that we could make education the villain – I am more inclined to blame arrogance, and ignorance. I share the frustration with the idea that an ANC,or even, Jacob Zuma supporter is typically uneducated,or rural(taken 2mean, “doesnt know any better”…).However, is it not a fair(or at the very least, a plausible observation?)that our President has ridden in on the back of an Mbeki backlash(wat u said),and has milked “political conspiracy” to garner support, given his fraud and corruption charges(which I believe should (?)disqualify him from holding the highest office in the land; at least, I think a principled ANC might find it an uncomfortable situation? No?).I found compounding these 2issues,lacking formal education with the President’s political journey esp. in the last 10 years,a little facetious.The statement u quote from Prince Mashele doesnt seem to suggest that Zuma is uneducated and thus unfit to lead,it seems to suggest that his political strategy is questionable, and thus his leadership..A populist can get elected many times without being a good leader, so that part dsnt put me at…

The Creator

Exactly right, Piet. Confidence tricksters usually act like they’re a bit dumb. Their victims feel smug and smart, until they notice that the trickster has vanished with their cash.

The difference is only that Zuma manages to do it over and over again!

TumiM

@Sarah Britten
Im afraid I must disagree – I don’t need my President to give me a warm fuzzy feeling, or to smile and make nice, or to make me feel like he loves me. I want to know that HE knows what he’s doing. I don’t have a problem feeling like my President thinks “too deeply” about issues. I’d have Mbeki back in a heartbeat.

Jack Sparrow

I suppose it is how you assess “cleverness”. Certainly in terms of increasing his personal wealth and comforts (R250m at Nkandla cannot be wrong) he’s pretty clever. His explanations haven’t been that great. As for managing SA Inc, not so “clever”. Nothing to do with formal education though.

ian shaw

I agree that Zuma did as well if not better as so-called Political;Science graduates. But being “clever” about politics is not the same as being an engineer, a medical doctor, a biologist or geneticist, a mathematician, a bookkeeper, an architect, a commercial pilot or a brain surgeon.. Indeed, politics is the only field that requires no qualification or education of any kind, yet offers great potential rewards. So to talk about education and use successful ;politicians as an example is a contradiction in terms.

Moeng

I am forever suprised by the same ANC members who critises Mbeki’s english education forgeting that he was sent by the ANC to go and study in England like so many other ANC leaders. To them Mbeki is English because he spent 7 years studying in England. I wish they knew that the man spent most of his exile years in Africa.

http://necrofiles.blogspot.com Garg Unzola

@TumiM:
Me too. As woefully as Mbeki treated our AIDS issue, at least he knew what he was doing. Zuma only knows how to safe Zuma’s bacon.

GrahamJ

@ntozakhona

I could write a similar and very impressive list of the benefits to SA life expectancy, financial growth, infrastructure building, health improvements, infant mortality, reticulation of water and electricity, etc about Hendrik Verwoerd.

It wouldn’t make me respect him. Zuma is known almost universally as a fraudster, philanderer and nontellectual.

The Critical Cynic

Instead of walking into one you created your own minefield.
Well, most seem to be able to see a formal education does not equate to intellect nor do years of education, however acquired, automatically make one an intellectual or lead to intellectual rigour. As impressive as knowledge and the accumulation of facts and information can initially appear to be, there is no direct mapping of this onto someone’s level of intelligence, because, as with education, knowledge does not make one an intellectual or lead to intellectual rigour.

Intellectual rigour is usually the result of years of knowledge accumulation coupled with the training in thinking that leads to the ability to think deeply and objectively about the knowledge being acquired, and to move beyond critical thinking into the realm of creative thinking. This ability to think deeply, objectively and creatively is what differentiates the greats from the average and enables them to creatively solve complex problems, the kind of which are currently facing the world.

I would argue that formal education, when applied and internalised by awake and aware individuals, has a greater chance of producing able thinking individuals than an informal education. This is a gross generalisation and I acknowledge that there are a minority of individuals out there who have proved quite the opposite. This is where attitude and personal motivation usually play a big part…..
.
When it comes to Zuma however….

The Critical Cynic

When it comes to Zuma however….
Zuma is most definitely educated and knowledgeable, and is certainly no fool. Unfortunately he is a man who has practiced his poor thinking ability for many years but is confusing his experience and knowledge with being a competent thinker. This is akin to the person who believes that many years of practicing playing the self-taught guitar will make him a great guitarist and not a well-practiced poor guitarist. Zuma is experienced enough to recognise that to put himself into a competitive thinking situation such as a live debate with Zille would highlight his poor thinking ability. This, coupled with his questionable morals and ethics, makes him a severe liability for the country in such a competitive world. If he had the character and humility he would do himself, and the country, a huge favour and hire someone to teach him how to think (or he could apply himself and work his way through Edward de Bono’s various books on how to think!
If he were to do this I think he’d surprise a lot of people, including himself, at the improvement!

Marie

You don’t have to be educated to be a good and fair leader in any area of life. As a traditional leader, leading traditional folk, you could be admired and adored. However, leading a first world country, with first world economics, you either have to be educated (any way you like) or surround yourself by educated wisemen. Your children, cousins, aunties, uncles and mates do not fit the bill.

Stephen

“That a person with no formal education possesses no intellectual faculties and thus must be dismissed as a hapless intellectual zombie…” Uh, no. But Zuma, yes.

“That intellectual rigour is the preserve of those who have spent time behind a classroom desk.” Probably. (If I understand the meaning of the word ‘intellectual’.)

Mbeki is a psuedo-intellectual. He reads a lot; but is formally expert in what one can only guess.

Len

Unfortunately the first comment after your blog was @Dave Harris agreeing with you. This is not a good thing.
It might be worthwhile to consider that Zuma is not only the leader for Africans, but for all of us. We need to be able to respect him, we need to be able to trust that he can represent our country in the global arena. None of this is happening for me right now.